Veterans deserve extra protection from discrimination

Published 6:13 pm, Friday, June 14, 2013

Discrimination is unacceptable and wrong; in some cases it's even illegal -- unless, that is, we're talking about veterans. Apparently in this country it's OK to discriminate against vets. If you don't think this is happening, just ask a Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan veteran or anyone serving in the National Guard or reserves. It's rather shocking to realize that this type of negative behavior is actually going on around this country.

Employment is often the first obstacle that veterans must overcome during their transition from the military to the civilian lifestyle. The value and importance of appropriate, living-wage employment cannot be underestimated in the overall transition from the military to the civilian work force. Since the best approach for dealing with transition issues is a holistic approach, it must be understood that employment is an integral facet of a veterans overall continuum of well-being. The negative effects of long-term unemployment are especially devastating to service members who may also be suffering from additional stressors such as repeated deployments, marital discord, domestic violence, multiple moves, substance abuse, depression/PTSD, homelessness and suicidal thoughts. Employment is often the linchpin that holds families and lives together.

Part of the problem is that with the elimination of the draft, there are fewer and fewer veterans scattered within our society. With fewer personal ties to the military and veteran communities comes a lack of understanding. The deluge of negative media attention over the course of the last dozen years of war has skewed the perceptions of those without personal or family experience.

Fewer than 7 percent of Americans have ever served in the armed forces and less than 1 percent wears the uniform today. While other groups enjoy certain protections and advantages under the law, those who have served and fought for their country currently enjoy no such comprehensive legal consideration. In fact, just the opposite is often true; frequently those who have served and sacrificed are at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, there is help for our unjustly treated veterans. AMVETS is committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination experienced by American veterans and is therefore dedicated to the promotion of protected status for our nation's heroes as acknowledgement of their many sacrifices on behalf of all Americans.

AMVETS is promoting and pursuing the idea of protected status for veterans, a nearly cost-neutral option, in order to enhance veteran access and equity in employment opportunities, which is the single most important area in which veterans are at a disadvantage when compared to non-veterans. AMVETS believes that status as a protected category under the existing nondiscrimination law would go a long way to ensure veteran success in an unfavorable civilian job market and it would also provide legal recourse for discrimination based on military or veteran status.

Corrective legislation is ready and waiting to be introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA); unfortunately, the bills are being held up while additional support is sought. Now is the time to act, to get this much needed legislation introduced and passed.